America's most inspiring company is in Seattle area

October 2, 2013 |By AUBREY COHEN

Four other area companies made the list

JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM

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1. Microsoft -- up from fifth last year. Microsoft has been in the news for bad reasons recently, including stumbles with Windows Phone, Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer recently announced plans to retire, and some top shareholders want Chairman Bill Gates gone too. But the company gets high marks for philanthropy, possibly reaping benefits from the work of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is unrelated, except through the Gates connection.

"This year what was by far the most important attribute to respondents was whether a company was using its profits and influence to make the world a better place," the report said.

JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM

24of25

1. Microsoft -- up from fifth last year. Microsoft has been in the news for bad reasons recently, including stumbles with Windows Phone, Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer recently announced plans to retire, and some top shareholders want Chairman Bill Gates gone too. But the company gets high marks for philanthropy, possibly reaping benefits from the work of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is unrelated, except through the Gates connection.

"This year what was by far the most important attribute to respondents was whether a company was using its profits and influence to make the world a better place," the report said.